Rail flaw detector mechanism



Feb. 15, 1938. G. L. JONES ET AL RAIL FLAW DETECTOR MECHANISM 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb, 5, 1935 s m ER m mm RC w m Ju R 5 WW W N/ EREGuuuu M Feb. 15,1938. 6. JONES ET AL r 2,108,559

RAIL FLAW DETECTOR MECHANISM Filed Feb. 5, 1955 2 Shee'bs Sheet 2ZSnventors GEORGE L. JONES HAIZCOURT ODRAKE HENRY SCHUMACHER a W Gttotney -..f-iJ-1Il-Tr:o* STATES PATENT oFF Patented Feb. 15, 193s RAIL FLnwnnrncron 'MECHANISM George L. Jones, Garden City, Harcourt O. Drake,Hempstead, and Henry Schumacher, Brooklyn,- N. Y., assignors to SperryProducts, Inc., Brook lyn, N. Y., a corporationof New York ApplicationFebruary 5, 1935, Serial No. 5,046

.. v 12 Claims.

This invention relates to rail flaw detector mechanisms of the typeembodied in the Sperry rail flaw detector. "The operation of thesemechanisms is now :well known and consists of. a car which operatesalong the rails and, carries a mechanism responsive to internal flaws.When such a flaw is encountered an indication is made upon a chart inthe moving car and at the same time marking meanssuch as paint isdischarged on the rail in the region of flaw.

It is highly'desirable that the marking means should operate quickly inresponse to energization in order that the mark on the rail may beproperly located, and it is further desirablethat the mark be limited inextent to substantially the region of a flaw. If the marking means isslow in responding to an impulse it maybe that the This invention,therefore, has for its principal object the provision of rail markingmeans and actuating means therefor which will result in a. quickresponse of the marking means and which will yield a mark of relativelyshort length.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent inthe following detailed description thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view of a Sperry railfissure detector car, the main portion of the car being broken away toshow the detector mechanism.

Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive are views largelydn the form of wiring diagramsillustrating various forms of our invention.

Fig. dis a, section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5., I

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there are shownthe parts of astandard Sperry rail fissure detector car which includes a car-body illoperating along the rails R. Fissure detection is accomplished bypassing. current through each rail from a generator G within thecar-body supplying current to spaced. current brushes ii and i2supported .upon the current brush carriage it which when in lowered. orefiective adapted to ride upon the rail by mea ,suchas are pivotallyconnected at I 9 to the current brush carriage it. The current passedthrough the rail by way of spaced brushes H and it will establish anelectromagnetic field surrounding the rail and this field will beuniform except in the region of flaw, where it will be distorted. ,Suchdistortions of the electromagnetic field are detected by a flawresponsive mechanism which may take the form of a pair of opposedinduction coils 22 supported in a housing 23 at a constant distanceabove the rail surface by means of a carriage M. Said carriage M ismounted on current brush carriage it by means of loosely fittingbolts 2tand springs lit to permit said carriage M while riding on the rail onmeans such as wheels 217 to move independently of carriage it so thatthe said carriage 2t may at all times maintain parallelism withdifferential E. M. F. which after being suitably amplified by anamplifier A may be caused to actuate a pen P operating on a chart, nowshown.

' ment of said member to operate the marmng osition' is At the same timethat pen P is actuated, there is actuated also marking means which maytake the form of a paint gun 30 mounted on the current brush carriage I3a sufficient distance behind the flaw responsive members 22 tocompensate for the movement of the car and for the lag in operation ofthe paint gun.

As stated in the introduction hereto, it is highly desirable that thepaint gun be so operated that a relatively short mark will be placedupon the rail in the region of flaw, regardless of the magnitude of theimpulse passing through the amplifier A or the length of time that saidimpulse persists. For this purpose we have provided various forms of ourinvention. In all of these forms there is utilized a singleprinciple, 1. e., to actuate a memher in response to an impulse from theamplifier, and? to utilize only a fraction of the total movemeans.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2,

the impulse from amplifier A energizes magnet M which attracts itsarmature M against the action t spring ll to close a set of contacts Wand closea circuit including a source 'of energy, such as battery B, toenergize a magnet 44 which attracts an armature 45 against the action ofa spring 46 to actuate the pen P on the chart, not shown. The pen Pnormally draws a straight line on the chart which is movingcontinuously, but when actuated by the magnet 44 it makes a notch in thestraight line, indicating the presence of a flaw in the rail.

At the same time that pen magnet 44 is energized to cause pen P toindicate on the chart that a flaw has been encountered, we cause therailmarking means to be actuated for a constant predetermined degreeeach time an impulse passes through amplifier A. For this purpose weemploy a motor M which rotates a shaft 50 upon which there is fixed avalve journaledwithin a hearing 52, said valve having an opening 53diametrically therethrough so that once during each revolution thereofsaid opening 53 will connect the paint supply opening 54 with adischarge opening 55. The motor M is normally deenergized but is adaptedto be energized when contacts 43 close. For this purpose the circuitthrough motor M extends through a contact 56 carried by contact arm 51which engages a contact 58 carried by contact arm 59. The contact 56 isnormally held out of engagement with contact 58 by reason of spring 69.When contacts 43 close, however, there is energized a magnet 6| which isadapted to attract contact arm 51 as an armature and move contact 56into engagement with contact 58 to close ,the circuit through the motorM.

Upon an extension of shaft 50 there is carried a detent wheel 62 havingnotches 63 adapted to coact with a detent 64 which is normally held bysprings 65 pressed against the wheel 62 and will therefore engage in oneor the other of notches 63 to prevent rotation of the motor M. To permitmotor M to rotate shaft 5|] and therefore bring opening 53 intocoincidence with the paint supply opening 54 and outlet 55 there isprovided means for withdrawing detent 64 from the respective notches 63before contact 56 engages contact 58. For this purpose a spring contactarm 51 carries a lower contact 66 which engages a contact 61 carried bya spring contact 68 when the said arm 51 is in its unattracted position.When contacts 43 close, the circuit is completed by way of contacts 66,61 and magnet 69 which then attracts its armature to withdraw detent 64from notch 63 to permit motor M to rotate shaft 50 when the said motoris energized. Contacts 66 and 61 remain closed as spring arm 51 isattracted by magnet 6| and in the position indicated in dotted lines atS the contacts 66 and Marc still closed by reason of the fact that inthe full line position of arm 51 contact arm 68 is under tension and asarm 51 rises contact 61 follows in engagement with contact 66 by reasonof the tension in spring arm 68 relaxing. In the dotted line positionshown at S, therefore, contacts 66 and 61 engage, as well as contacts 56and 58. Thus, magnet 69 at this moment holds detent 64 withdrawn fromgroove 63 while the motor is energized to rotate shaft 50. A slightfurther attraction of arm 51 to the dotted line position indicated at Tbreaks the contacts 66 and 61 to deenergize magnet 69 and permitarmature 10 to drop, while contacts 56 and 53 remain in engagement toenergize motor M. The dropping of armature10 does not cause detent 64 todrop into its groove 63 by reason of the fact that shaft 56 has rotatedin the meantime to move grooove 63 out of engagement with the detent 64.The said de en 64 therefore rides upon the outer surface of wheel 62until the groove 63 on the opposite side of wheel 62 engages said detent64 to stop the rotation of the motor. The opening 53 is positioned at anangle, preferably at right angles, to the line joining groove 63 so thatin a half revolution of motor shaft 50 there is sure to be one fullengagement of opening 53 with paint supply 54- and outlet 55. Since themotor rotates at the same speed every time it is actuated, the length oftime that opening 53 engages supply opening 54 and discharge opening 55will be constant and thus a paint mark of constant length will beobtained upon the rail. It will thus be seen that regardless of how longcontacts 43 remain energized, and therefore motor M remains energized,only one-half revolution of shaft 50 will take place by reason ofthe'detent and groove mechanism just described, and only a fraction ofthis movement is utilized to actuate the rail marking means.

In another form of the invention, shown in Fig. 3, the impulse fromamplifier A energizes magnet 40 to break contacts 43 which are normallyheld closed by spring 42, so that pen magnet 44 is normally energized,and when an impulse from amplifier A comes through, said magnet will bedeenergized to cause pen P to be released by the action of spring 46 tomake a mark on the chart. At the same time, a transformer F sends animpulse through a polarized relay 12 to close a set of contacts 13 andenergize a magnet 14 Which attracts its armature 19' against the actionof springs 65' to withdraw a detent 64 from a groove 63' formed in awheel 62 to permit motor M which is continuously energized from anysuitable source such as battery B to rotate a shaft 50 upon which saidwheel 62 is mounted. The momentary release of detent 64' from groove 63'permits the wheel 62 to be rotated sufficiently so that when the impulsethrough transformer F ceases the detent 64' drops on to the outerperiphery of wheel 62' because the groove 63 has passed beyond saiddetent. The motor M may thus rotate freely until another groove 63'diametrically opposite the first groove is encountered by the detent 64and thus holds the motor against any further rotation until anotherimpulse from amplifier A sends an impulse through the transformer F. Inorder that the paint gun shall be operated for a constant interval eachtime motor M is set free to run for half a're'volution, we have providedon an extension of shaft 50, a wheel provided with contact segments 16of less than a semi-circle and positioned similarly to the position ofgroove 63' on wheel 62'. This means that for each half revolution ofmotor M one of the contact segments 16 will engage the contact brushes11 to energize magnet 18 which will attract its armature 19 against theaction of spring 80, said armature 19 forming the valve stem of a valve8| controlling the emission of paint from paint supply 82 through outlet83. Since each impulse through amplifier A results in a single impulsethrough transformer F and therefore a single release of detent 64 fromits groove 63, only onehalf revolution of motor M will take place foreach impulse through amplifier A and therefore only one actuation of thepaint gun will occur. Further, since the speed of motor M is the same ateach actuation thereof, the time-of energization of the paint gun willalways be constant and therefore a paint mark of constant length will beobtained.

In. the Fig. 4 form of the invention, parts simigagement with stopjlformed van a lever I9. The

releaseoi. detent B1, permits spring 90 to swing lever 89 to theright-in Fig. 4, and for a fraction of the are through which lever 89swings there is caused to be energized a magnet 18' which'attractsarmature 19' against the action of spring 80, said armature I8 formingthe valve stem of paint gun valve II. The upper end of lever 89 carriesa contact at which engages contact 92 pivoted at 93. Said engagementtakes place through a fraction of the arc described by" lever 09 inpassing from the full line to the dotted line position, the contact SIeventually sweeping past the contact, which is then returned to itsoriginal position by spring 94. When contacts it close once more magnet86 is energized to close a set of contacts Qlwhich energize a magnet .98whose armature is formed by theswing lever M. The strength of magnet 98is such as to overcome spring tt and draw the lever ti back to itsoriginal position. n the return stroke, contact ti does not make contactwith contact M by reason of the insulation strip tt carried at the lowerend of contact W and the bevelled surfaces of contacts ti and W. Thus.only during a fraction of the movement of lever'tt toward the right, in

\ Fig. i is contact made between contacts ti and W, and since theduration of engagement of said contacts is constant for each actuationof lever lit, the paint gun valve ill will be actuated tor a constantlength of time at each actuation that magnet it is energized there isalso energized a,magnetic clutch llit which normally rotates with shaftitl of the motor M. The energization of said magnet causes it to attracta cam member it? which has slight frictional engagement with the shaftltibut is normally held against rota i tion therewith by means of springnot engaging 1 a projection'llit on said cammember Itt. Thus the cammember ltt rotates with shaft ltl until projection lllt strikes springmember ltt, whereupon it is held against any further rotation.

en, however, magnet ltt is energized it attracts the member tilt, causesclutch members itt to engage so that member W2 is rotated together withshaft ltl, overcoming the resistance of spring Ida, and the saidprojection ltt rides under one end itt of a lever lll'l which -engagesvalve stem Wt oi. the paint gun valve ti. .As said projection passesbeneath the end lltt oi lever ltl it willjliit the valve to cause paintto be ejected, andsince the speed, of motor M is the same at eachactuation thereof, the valve will always be lifted for the same intervalto give a paint mark of constant length. The diameter of member M2 andthe speed of motor N are such that clutch I will be engaged for lessthan the one revolution thereof, the period of said one revolution beingpredetermined to/enceed the longest impulse that may'come throughamplifier h in response to flaw. The release of clutch itt permitsspring III] to return member I02 to its original position and leavesmember I02 in slight frictional engagement with shaft NH to be rotatedtherewith until projection I04 strikes spring I03 where it will beheldagainst any further rotation since spring I03 is of suificient strengthto overcome the frictional {engagement of member I02 with the shaft,ltl.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, we have hereindescribed the principle and operation of our invention, together withthe apparatus which we now consider to represent the best embodimentthereof, but we desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown isonlyillustrative and that the invention can be carried out by otherequivalent means. Also, while it is designed to use the various featuresand elements in the combination and relations described, some of thesemay be altered and others omitted without interfering with the moregeneral results outlined, and the invention extends to such use.

Having described our invention, what we claim and desire to. sec ure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a rail flaw detector mechanism, means responsive to flaw adaptedto generate continuous impulses of varying duration depending upon thesize and type of ilaw, rail marking means, operating means for saidmarking means comprising a motor, means whereby said impulses set saidmotor in operation, means whereby continued operation of said motor iscapable of actuating said marking means periodically, means forlimitperiod in excess of the longest impulse duration.

2. In a rail iiaw detector mechanism, means responsive to fiawadapted togenerate continuous impulses of varying duration depending upon the sizeand type of flaw, rail marking means,

operating means for said marking means comprising a motor, means wherebysaid impulses set said motor in operation, a rotary valve operated bysaid motor, a valve casing having an outlet, a supply of marking fluidconnected to said casing, said valve having means for connecting saidsupply to said outlet for a predetermined portion of the movement ofsaid valve in said casing whereby continued operation of said 1operating means for said marking means comprising a rotatable member,means whereby said impulses rotate said member, means whereby saidmarking means is actuated by said member, said last-named memberincluding an electric circuit, contacts in said circuit, means wherebysaid,

member actuates said contacts during a predetermined portion of therotation of said member, continued rotation of said member being capableof periodic actuation of said contacts, and means for limiting themovement of said member to a single actuation of said contacts inresponse to 4. In a rail flaw detector mechanism, means responsive toflaw adapted to generate continuous impulses of varying durationdepending upon the size and type of flaw, rail marking means, operatingmeans for said marking means comprising a continuously operating motor,an operating member normally disconnected from said motor, a clutch forconnecting-said member to said motor, said clutch being normallyineffective and adapted to be rendered effective by said impulses for apredetermined period in excess of the longest impulse duration, andmeans whereby said marking means is actuated by said member.

5. In a rail flaw detector mechanism, means responsive to fiaw adaptedto generate continuous impulses of varying duration depending upon thesize and type of flaw, rail marking means, operating means for saidmarking means comprising a continuously operating motor, an operatingmember normally disconnected from said motor, a clutch for connectingsaid member to said motor to rotate the member, said clutch beingnormally ineffective and adapted to be rendered effective by saidimpulses for a predetermined period in excess of the longest impulseduration, and means including a projection carried by said memberwhereby said marking means is actuated by said member for apredetermined portion of the movement of said memher.

6. In a rail flaw detector mechanism, means responsive to flaw adaptedto generate continuous impulses of varying duration depending upon thesize and type of flaw, rail marking means, operating means for saidmarking means comprising a continuously operating motor, an operatingmember normally disconnected from said motor, an electric clutch forconnecting said member to said motor to rotate the member, said clutchbeing normally inefiective and adapted to be rendered effective by saidimpulses for a predetermined period in excess of the longest impulseduration, and means including a projection carried by said memberwhereby said marking means is actuated by said member for apredetermined portion of the movement of said member. I

7. In a rail flaw detector mechanism, means responsive to flaw adaptedto generate continuous impulses of varying duration depending upon thesize and type of flaw, rail marking means, operating means for saidmarking means comprising a movable member, means whereby said varyingimpulses move said member a predeter mined, substantially constantdistance at a substantially constant speed, and means whereby saidmarking means is actuated by said member during a portion of themovement thereof.

8. In a rail flaw detector mechanism, means responsive to flaw adaptedto generate continuous impulses of varying duration depending upon thesize and type of flaw, rail marking means, operating means for saidmarking means comprising a movable member, means whereby said varyingimpulses move said member a predetermined, substantially constantdistance at a substantially constant speed, and means whereby saidmarking means is actuated by said member during a predetermined portionof the movement thereof.

9. In a rail flaw detector mechanism, means responsive to flaw adaptedto generate continuous impulses of varying duration depending upon thesize and type of flaw, rail marking means, operating means for saidmarking means comprising a movable member, means whereby said varyingimpulses move said member a predetermined, substantially constantdistance at a substantially constant speed, means wherebycontinued'movement of said member is capable of actuating said markingmeans periodically, means for limiting the movement of said member to asingle actuation of said marking means in response to a flaw, and meanswhereby said marking means is actuated by said member during apredetermined portion of the movement thereof.

10. In a rail flaw detector mechanism, means responsive to flaw adaptedto generate continuous impulses of varying duration depending upon thesize and type of flaw, rail marking means, operating means for saidmarking means comprising a movable member, means whereby said varyingimpulses move said member through a predetermined, substantiallyconstant distance at a substantially constant speed, and means wherebysaid marking-means is actuated by said member during a portion of themovement thereof, said last-named means comprising a rotary valvecarried by said member, a valve casing having an outlet, 2. supply ofmarking fluid connected to said casing, said valve having means forconnecting said supply to said outlet for a predetermined intervalduring the movement of said member.

11. In a rail flaw detector mechanism, means responsive to flaw adaptedto generate continuous impulses of varying duration depending upon thesize and type of flaw, rail marking means, operating means for saidmarking means comprising a motor, means whereby said impulses set saidmotor in operation, means whereby said marking means is actuated by saidmotor during a predetermined portion of the period during which saidmotor is in operation, and means for rendering said motor inefiectiveafter a predetermined period, said period being in excess of the longestimpulse duration.

12. In a rail flaw detector mechanism, means responsive to flaw adaptedto generate continuous impulses of varying duration depending upon thesize and type of flaw, rail marking means, operating means for saidmarking means comprising a movable member, means whereby said impulsesmove said member through a predetermined, substantially constantdistance at a substantially constant speed, means whereby said markingmeans is actuated by said member, said last-named means including anelectric circuit,

contacts in said circuit, and means whereby said member actuates saidcontacts during a predetermined portion of the movement of said member.

GEORGE L. JONES. HARCOURT C. DRAKE. HENRY SCHUMACHER.

